Dover Port Faces Chaos Under EU Entry System, MPs Warn

The Port of Dover is at risk of "utter chaos and miles of tailbacks" unless the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) is fixed or its checks are suspended by next week, according to UK Members of Parliament (MPs).

Karen Bradley, the chair of the home affairs select committee, has urged the UK government to exert "maximum pressure" on French authorities to address the technological issues plaguing the EES. The warning comes as the port anticipates the arrival of peak holiday traffic, which could exacerbate existing delays.

The EES is a new digital border system designed to register non-EU nationals crossing the Schengen area's external borders. It requires travellers to scan their passport and provide a facial image and fingerprints, a process that has reportedly been experiencing significant technical difficulties and slow processing times.

MPs are concerned that the current state of the EES will lead to substantial disruptions for ferry passengers and freight, impacting travel and trade between the UK and the EU. The call for action highlights the potential economic and logistical consequences of the system's ongoing struggles.